Springing to Life

My flowers from Papa have really branched out beautifully since I planted them at the beginning of June. After a long week at the Elkhart County 4-H Fair, I was delighted to be greeted by such a vibrant scene during my first full day at home.

What was a symbol of Snuffy's death, has become a memorial of life as I have watched the flowers flourish there each summer for the last two years. This special spot has become a place of grace, where I reflect frequently on God's goodness and the power He has to bring life out of death and create eternal beginnings out of earthly ends.

Nothing better illustrates this divine irony than the cross upon which Jesus died. What was once the greatest symbol of suffering, has been transformed by the grace and power of God into the greatest emblem of joy and hope that the world has ever known. The same cross where Jesus' head once hung when He bore our sin and shame, is the cross that now lifts up our heads to behold His great salvation.

The last verse of my favorite hymn best illustrates this wondrous truth:

O Cross that liftest up my head,

I dare not ask to hide from Thee;

I lay in dust life's glory dead,

And from the ground

there blossoms red

Life that shall

endless be.

Elkhart County 4-H Fair Adult & Family Talent Contest

This was my first year assisting Jill Garris with the Elkhart County 4-H Fair Adult and Family Talent Contest, and I'm not sure who had more fun . . . Jill and me, or the contestants!

From the very beginning, I knew that Jill was, as Anne of Green Gables would put it, a "kindred spirit," but we discovered how much we really do think alike when we showed up wearing the same color the night of the contest. What were the chances? We planned many things together, but this was not one of them!

Working with Jill has been nothing but joy, and I count her one of God's greatest blessings to me during my third and final year as a Member in Training on the Elkhart County 4-H Fair Board. Even beyond all that Jill has taught me, she has become a trusted friend that I will always treasure.

2009 Elkhart County 4-H Fair Senior Queen Pageant

By the grace of God, Grandma was on stage again as a past queen this morning during the 2009 Elkhart County 4-H Fair Senior Queen Pageant. This is the ninth year that God has granted her the strength to make her appearance as the 2000 Elkhart County 4-H Fair Senior Queen, and we rejoice in His great faithfulness.

Of course, Mom also had a significant part in this royal process. It was Mom who rose early to waken the 90 year old sleeping beauty and help her put on her queenly apparel.

I couldn't pass up the once in a lifetime opportunity to get me picture taken with a 90 year old queen, who by God's gracious providence just happens to be my dearly loved grandmother.

Here is Grandma with Miss Katie Sautter, the 2008 Elkhart County 4-H Fair Senior queen, who we had the distinct honor and joy of sponsoring last year. On the far right, is Eileen Martin, our Room 4-U 4-H Club Senior Queen Candidate for this year's Senior Queen Pageant. Miss Eileen was pure grace and elegance and was announced as the second runner up just moments before this picture was taken.

After the crowds and cameras cleared, Grandma was able to have her picture taken with the newly crowned 2009 Elkhart County 4-H Fair Senior Queen, Beverly Earnhart.

Given the physical struggles that Grandma faced leading up to this year's fair, we counted it an extra special blessing and a token of answered prayer to see her strength and stamina throughout the morning. God certainly kept the promise that my dear grandfather used to quote so often: "As thy days are, so shall thy strength be."